What is Augmented Reality (AR)? What makes it different from Virtual Reality (VR)? What role does Mixed Reality (MR) play?
In a nutshell, VR is about moving in completely artificial worlds, while AR is about adding virtual information to reality.
Virtual Reality (VR): Virtual reality
With virtual reality, the user is immersed in a completely computer-generated, three-dimensional environment. VR glasses react to the user’s movements and enable him to interact with the virtual world. Diving into the virtual world suggests to the user that he is supposedly in a virtual place – the so-called immersion.
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Augmented Reality (AR): Extended reality
With augmented reality, the real visual world is enriched with virtual, computer-generated content (images, videos, virtual objects) in real-time. These are displayed in our reality either via AR glasses or via mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) and overlay or supplement the real perception.
Mixed Reality (MR): Mixed reality
Mixed reality is a scientific construct and, in principle, covers the entire spectrum between VR and the real world. Mixed reality merges the real and virtual worlds, creating an environment where physical and digital objects interact. It is not only conceivable to enrich the real world with digital content (AR), but also to display real people in virtual worlds (augmented virtuality).
In mixed reality, the digital content is not only above or in front of reality. The digital elements interact with reality, i.e., they move with or adapt to the dimensions. A ball under the table can only be seen if it is really under the table; the user has to bend down to see it.
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